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Joints of the bones of the skull
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
The bones of the skull are connected mainly by continuous joints, with the exception of the temporomandibular joint. These joints are presented mainly in the form of sutures in adults and interosseous membranes (syndesmoses) in newborns, as well as in the form of synchondroses. The bones of the skull roof are connected by serrated and squamous sutures. Between the medial edges of the right and left parietal bones there is a sagittal suture (sutura sagittalis), between the frontal and parietal bones there is a coronal suture (sutura coronalis), between the parietal and occipital bones - a lambdoid suture (sutura lambdoidea). The sagittal, coronal and lambdoid sutures are serrated. The squama of the temporal bone is connected to the parietal bone and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone by the squamous suture. The bones of the facial skull are connected by flat (harmonious) sutures. The names of individual sutures are formed from the names of the two connecting bones (frontal-ethmoidal suture, etc.). Between the bones of the skull, there are also non-permanent sutures between parts of one bone. These sutures are replaced by bone tissue during a person's life.
Continuous connections of the bones of the skull
Department of the skull |
Connection type |
Connection method |
Roof of the skull |
Syndesmoses |
Serrated sutures: coronal, sagittal, (sagittal) lambdoid, Scaly suture |
Facial part of the skull |
Syndesmoses |
Flat (harmonic) seam |
Connections of teeth with alveoli of jaws |
Syndesmoses |
Impaction (dental-alveolar junction) |
Base of the skull |
Synchondroses (temporary), replaced by synostoses: sphenoid-occipital sphenoid-petrous petrous-occipital interoccipital sphenoid-ethmoid |
In the area of the base of the skull there are also synchondroses formed by fibrocartilage. The sphenoccipital synchondrosis (synchondrosis sphenooccipitalis) is located between the body of the sphenoid bone and the basilar part of the occipital bone. Between the pyramid of the temporal bone and the basilar part of the occipital bone is the petrooccipital synchondrosis (synchondrosis petrooccipitalis). With age, these synchondroses are gradually replaced by bone tissue (synostose).
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